25th Anniversary Poem
Written in 2011 at the celebration of the Philadelphia Writing Project's anniversary
by Susan Chast
Anniversaries are beacons that gleam
Through the soupy fog of change and time
Something happened here
Something happened over time
Slowly seeds grew
But not by themselves
We labored over them
Hoed the soil
Raised money for land and laborers
Touched them and were touched in return
We left and let others lead
Came back
And came back again
And this anniversary we are still here
Our seeds still spreading
Community far and wide
Something happened here
And we welcome you
Child, Friend, Colleague and Teacher
You make change possible
You carry the word
Create the words
“Happy Anniversary”
Thanks to you
Something is happening here.
Needs bio.
Susan’s piece was inspired by poetry performed during the day events as part of PhilWP’s 25th anniversary celebration. Susan wrote and shared the poem with the audience at the days events at the University of Pennsylvania Museum for Archaeology and Anthropology on October 22, 2011.